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West Coast Main Line
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the upgrade of the west coast main line is on schedule. [86854]
Ms Glenda Jackson: This is a matter for Railtrack. Railtrack has entered into both contractual commitments and licence undertakings in respect of the upgrade of the west coast main line. Ministers expect Railtrack to deliver on its obligations.
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what effect the failure of Railtrack to complete the capacity review on time has had on the schedule for the upgrade of west coast main line. [86855]
Ms Glenda Jackson: I understand that Railtrack has assured the Rail Regulator and its customers and funders that delay in completing those strategic capacity reviews which it undertook to provide as part of its licence obligation will not delay the upgrade of the west coast main line, or compromise the ability to proceed with any of the enhancements explored in those studies.
Lead Shot
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to lay before Parliament a Statutory Instrument on the use of lead shot in wetlands. [86417]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 14 June 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 June 1999, Official Report, columns 374-75.
Cycle Routes
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the length of dedicated cycle routes in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough, (i) currently and (ii) in 1997. [86894]
Ms Glenda Jackson: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 3 March 1999, Official Report, columns 737-38, about the length of the London Cycle network at April 1998. While it is anticipated that the London Cycle Network grew to some 800 miles in 1998-99, lengths on a borough basis are being collected at the present time. Therefore, I will write to my hon. Friend setting out the figures for April 1999, with comparable April 1997 data, as soon as they are available.
Bletchley and Bicester Railway Line
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to receive plans for the re-opening of the Bletchley and Bicester railway line; what level of expenditure on this line is planned by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [86895]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The East-West Rail Group, a consortium of local authorities, have proposed re-opening this section of line as part of their proposal for opening up an East-West rail route which would extend from Oxford to Ipswich via Bicester, Bletchley, Bedford and Cambridge. I understand they have arranged for Railtrack to carry out a feasibility study which is expected to be
16 Jun 1999 : Column: 138
completed in a few weeks. Subject to the outcome of the feasibility study it will be for the consortium to seek sources of funding for any plans it decides to pursue. The Department will consider any proposals that may be put to it.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak railway line; what proposals he has received for the opening of a station at Tufnell Park; and if he will make a statement. [86896]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
There are no current plans to electrify the Barking to Gospel Oak railway line and no proposals have been received for a station at Tufnell Park.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has received from the train operating company for new services to different destinations on the Barking to Gospel Oak line in the last 12 months. [86899]
Mr. Bill Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about his policy on calling in planning applications under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. [87392]
Mr. Caborn:
My right hon. Friend's general approach, like that of previous Secretaries of State, is not to interfere with the jurisdiction of local planning authorities unless it is necessary to do so. Parliament has entrusted them with responsibility for day-to-day planning control in their areas. It is right that, in general, they should be free to carry out their duties responsibly, with the minimum of interference.
There will be occasions, however, when my right hon. Friend may consider it necessary to call in the planning application to determine himself, instead of leaving the decision to the local planning authority.
His policy is to be very selective about calling in planning applications. He will, in general, only take this step if planning issues of more than local importance are involved. Such cases may include, for example, those which, in his opinion:
Ms Blears:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make a decision on the application to raise the passenger air transport movement limit at Stansted. [87394]
16 Jun 1999 : Column: 139
Ms Glenda Jackson:
After careful consideration of BAA plc's application for an increase, and the responses to the consultation that was held on it, I have today laid before the House an Order allowing 120,000 passenger air transport movements at Stansted between August 1999 and February 2000, and increasing, from 1 March 2000, the annual limit from 120,000 to 185,000 per annum. The new limit should allow Stansted to expand to around 15 million passengers a year (mppa)--a limit for which it has had outline planning permission since 1985 and for which detailed planning approval was given in March.
The purpose of the passenger air transport movement limit is to ensure that the development of Stansted does not outpace the ability of local infrastructure to cope with it. The Government are satisfied that the growth in road and rail traffic that will be generated will be satisfactorily accommodated, and that the overall effects of a 15 mppa airport are properly reflected in local development plans.
Mr. Geraint Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the remaining appointments to the Commission for Integrated Transport; and if he will make a statement. [87395]
Mrs. Liddell:
I have today appointed Bill Bradshaw, Lawrence Christensen, Nicky Gavron, Stephen Joseph, David Leeder, Lilli Matson, Bill Morris, John O'Brien, Veronica Palmer, Mike Parker and Nick Reilly as members of the Commission for Integrated Transport.
They will be joined by four ex officio members: the Chair of the SRA (Sir Alastair Morton), the Chairman of the CAA (Sir Malcolm Field), the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency (Lawrie Haynes) and the Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (Jane Wilmot).
I am pleased that the new Commission is now able to start work. We have brought together a strong and balanced team with the experience to provide practical and constructive advice on making integrated transport a reality. The ex officio members will bring the expertise of their own organisations, but we have otherwise appointed members not as representatives of particular interests but as individuals with a breadth of knowledge of transport and its impacts.
The 17-strong Commission will be a fresh and creative force in helping Government deliver the clean, safe, fair and efficient transport system the country needs. The Commission must build on the consensus established around last year's Transport White Paper, and I and my ministerial colleagues very much look forward to working with it.
16 Jun 1999 : Column: 140
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what period after 15 March, the Royal Ulster Constabulary telephone hotline number which any potential witnesses to the murder of Mrs. Rosemary Nelson were urged to call was unstaffed; and for what reasons. [85453]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 25 May 1999]: A contact line was established in March. A separate hotline was set up on 9 April following the arrival of Mr. Port. I understand that, where possible, it is manned during office hours, which are normally 0900 to 1700. The line is answered by non-RUC officers. Outside these hours the hotline works on an answering machine.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the involvement of officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in respect of the inquiry into the murder of Mrs. Rosemary Nelson. [85451]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 25 May 1999]: The RUC have advised that, on the day Mrs. Nelson was murdered, the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary contacted the Director of the FBI, who agreed to offer the Bureau's investigative expertise. As a result, a number of experienced agents arrived from the United States of America. They brought expertise in investigating acts of terrorism, including major case management. As the FBI's Legal Attache, John Guido said on 12 April:
may conflict with national policies on important matters;
could have significant effects beyond their immediate locality;
give rise to substantial regional or national controversy;
raise significant architectural and urban design issues; or
may involve the interests of national security or of foreign Governments
However, each case will continue to be considered on its individual merits.
"The FBI arrived fully prepared to provide as much assistance as they could by offering suggestions on investigative strategy, evidence collection and data management. Frankly, we found the RUC to be well prepared to handle the investigation."
They were in Northern Ireland from 20 March to 16 April and noted that a very dedicated and professional inquiry team had been assembled to bring the killers of Mrs. Nelson to justice. Mr. Guido also said that the FBI had confidence that all appropriate lines of inquiry were being pursued and that the greatest chance of success lay with the RUC continuing the investigation. The FBI continue in an advisory role and there is regular contact with Mr. Port's team.
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